Friday, February 8, 2008

Is it just me or are we lost?

Since we've retired to God's country (or at least our little section of it) we don't travel that much anymore, it seems. The longest trips we make are to the doctor's visits (too many) and my son and daughter(in-law) in Florence. Where once we were world travelers, we are now rather sedate. Oddly enough, we both grew up in traveling families. I'm not sure how it went for Mac, but I can remember how it went at our house. Mama would start packing the suitcases two nights before we were to leave. The night before was reserved for preparing the driving directions and for that she needed her "navigator's bag" . In it were the pencils, sundry maps, a notepad , a pack of peanuts (?) and her sunglasses. She was always excited to get on the road. I remember when we lived in Cleveland and the summer trip was being planned. Mama had the map stretched out on the table, her red pencil in hand and was trying to find the quickest route to Chesterfield, South Carolina. Now this was before there was an arterial spray of Interstate Highways crisscrossed across the paper. No MapQuest. No GPS systems to tell you when to make each and every turn We had Mama. We were all hanging onto the table watching with interest and chattering about our trip the excitement like a bubble of water headed for the surface .Daddy came over to where she was studying the map, her lower lip caught between her teeth and that little scowl between her eyebrows, her eyes in serious study. He allowed as to how she was making too much work out of it, took the red pencil from her grasp and locating Cleveland (or an approxcimity of where he thought Cleveland might be) and then finding Chesterfield (or somewhere in the vicinity of that one, too) he drew a straight line from one to the other in a broad red stroke. Mama looked at the map then looked up at him. We were all standing in a circle around her, our eyes glued to his face. "And just what is that supposed to be?" she asked him. "It's as the crow flies," Daddy said. I have to hand it to him, he said it with a straight face. "Well, that would all be well and good if anyone had thought to build any roads there," was Mama's reply. Then she looked at us and with the utmost solemnity said, "and this," indicating her now desacrated map, "is why the Children of the Lord wandered in the desert for forty years. Moses drew the map."

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

To funny. What stories you have of your mom. i would hae love to known her.
We didn't go much as children,but mom always got things going. She never drove so as always she was Betty crocker and fixed us a bag of food and dad took care of the rest.I never see a honey bun that I don't think of our trips. Our first rest stop we had honey buns and milk and dad his coffee.
I guess this is something I took from her. When I hear trip I start packing,but mine is my cute wicker picnic basket. Oh yea gotta have a ice chest. Brian has always fussed about it and the room it takes,but I have saved that buddy some money =)

Mockingbird Hill said...

Absolutely trips aren't what they used to be. We never took off on any road trip without ham & cheese sandwiches and some kind of cookies. No chips, 'cause they only came in the big bags and who wants those crumbs all over?

Now..no packing of food since there's always a gas/food mart or reast area/restaurant on the way. It's a lot more convenient, but not nearly as much fun!

Cassie

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Rolling on the floor laughing!!!!! I would have loved your MOM!!
Penny

NeereAnDear said...

Oh crack me up!! A wise woman your mom!

I love all the stories you write... I think you should do a book with all these ancedotes... they are such a hoot..

As for the Blue Screen of Death... yes its very real... so I guess sometimes guys can be right eh? We won't tell them though... don't want to puff them up too much

HUGS

JO

Vee said...

Again! Oh my, you're on a roll. And my favorite line was not the final one. It was this: "the excitement like a bubble of water headed for the surface" for there's nothing finer than a good simile! Thanks, Sandi!

If you try that transfer technique, please let me know, ok?

Kat said...

Your mother sounds like a fabulous woman. What wonderful memories.

Thank you for visiting my blog! And 39 years is VERY impressive! Wow! :)

Jeni said...

That story about your mom was hysterical -loved her response!
I think kids (my older daughter anyway) either have no sense of direction at all or didn't pay a lick of attention in geography classes. My older daughter often was my chauffeur when I had to go see some doctors from time to time in Pittsburgh, PA. Now we live in the central part of PA and Pittsburgh is south by southwest of us. Every time we would leave, daughters directional questions would begin as soon as it was time to get on Interstate 80, which runs east-west and our interchange is located about 4 miles from where I live. Inevitably, my daughter would ask at that exchange, "Do we go east or west." And I would tell her, "Go west young woman, go west." just like Horace Greeley told people ya know. She just has no concept!

LivingTheLife said...

Obviously I would have loved your mother...she sounds like such a hoot...something I'm sure you just might have inherited.

I remember road trips from my childhood where we would pack a days worth of food in the back of the ole chevy...the back seat alone was the size of a small road side park...we had enough room for the days worth of food & drink, along with a few pillows, 3 kids, a toy or two and of course the travel tote w/all kinds of things packed in it for the "what ifs"...oh those were the days!

Are we there yet???

Blessings...
Teresa

Unknown said...

Oh how we need a trip! We havent taken a trip since I was preggers with #4 to the beautiful Oregon Coast.
Your mom sounded like a blessing for sure :)

Pam said...

lol!! That was the best story. Your mom sounds great!

Justabeachkat said...

O-k-a-y! Now I see where you got your sense of humor. Your Mom sounds like a hoot!

I love to travel, but I probably would never think to plan a trip. Now, George, he's another story. He's always planning the next "adventure". Our next one is next month. California here we come!

Hugs!
Kat

smilnsigh said...

I-Love-Your-Mama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mari-Nanci

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

I adore that story...Have a great weekend...Smiles

Anonymous said...

Hi Sandi, oh we loved this story!!! Jacqui and I, we would have adored your Mom as we adore you :) We are back from vacation, and staying put, there is no place like home. Plus the Nest is such a mess!!! Have a lovely weekend hon :) Jenn and Jacqui

12 Days of Christmas Swap said...

Oh that is so good, I had friends here this afternoon, and a huge discussion on how they were going to get back to their son's place, road maps, directions, pens, markers were spread on the floor, Carol becoming very agitated as she felt her naviagtion skills would not please Roger, I am waiting to hear if they made it, or still driving the various motorways.
I have just visited `Mary' what exactly are Garden Flags?
Hugs from N.Z.
Liz

Mima said...

I'm really enjoying the stories of your Mum, what a woman. I remember huge road trips as a child, but we always went to the same place, this little town in North Wales where we still visit now on a regular basis, so there was no map reading involved. Now I love maps, so always have one on my lap when we are on the move, but hate cars - at least it keeps me quiet while we are on a journey.

Mima said...

Completely forgot to answer your question, I mainly like to read crime, but can only manage it in my better patches (concentration isn't there otherwise!). Had a look at your likes and totally agree with your program choices, when things aren't so good I watch repeats on DVD, and Medium season 2 is in there at the moment! Have a happy day.

Theresa said...

My parents always got both my sister and myself a map from Sunoco before we took long road trips in the car, and then they would have us follow along to where we were. To this day I love looking at maps and have a pretty good sense of direction.

However we call my hubby "turns wrong way"

Fun post, however these days I prefer your dad's method, and like to fly with the crows.

Mary said...

Or in our house Simon did as I can read maps and he cant!!!!

Lee said...

LOL Sandi, that was so funny. I love your mother's sense of practicality and humor. I'm a detailed planner too. My ex used to have a running map inside of his head so he always basically knew where to go. Even so he sometimes got us lost because he would be looking at something and miss his exit. So, I ended up as navigator.

Joy!
Lee

Unknown said...

Okay girl, you can really write well. The sentence about the bubble of water headed for the surface is just good writing. Plus I really enjoyed this post. Your Mom sounds like my Mom was. I think I get my love of travel from her.

Sandi McBride said...

I'm so glad that you all liked my post about Mama...you'll be hearing more from the Sassy Grace in future...thank you so much for all the kind comments that warm my heart...makes me want to do a Sally Field...you like me, you really like me!
Sandi

ancient one said...

Loved this!! So funny!!

PAT said...

That's a great story, Sandi. I'm the navigator in our family and when the pilot doesn't listen to what the navigator is saying, we sometimes end up in places we weren't intending to go...but it does make for some interesting trips.

We're still traveling. We live up in the country and have to drive about 50 miles to the doctor. We usually make a day of it when we have appointments and run other errands while we're near the big city!

Pat

Jodie Adams said...

Love your mama's quotes. It sounds like she was a pretty cool lady. And yes Aunt Sandi WE REALLY LIKE YOU!!! :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for stopping by the DD.
We don't travel as much now that we are here in Texas as we used to in Seattle - of course many of our trips were just over the mountains to escape the rain and gray!
Dad was always the navigator/driver (planning to excess) on our trips growing up, but family trips were the best entertainment for us!

Wanda @ Just Vintage said...

What a great story! My memory is of spur of the moment vacations with no reservations and Daddy going from motel to motel looking for the cheapest price - at Momma's insistence. Then when the first one was the cheapest, he'd have to go back there only to find out the last vacancy was filled and the process would start over again.

Theresa said...

Hi Sandi, When you get a chance, I have an award for you :)

Christine Boles said...

HAAaaaaahahahaha!

Merisi said...

*lol*
Thanks for the laugh, what a wonderful story (my children call me Mama, and that's what I call my mom also!). I still travel by map, my children are excellent co-pilots, I travelled alone with them for hundreds of miles, still do. Next is Florence with my eldest.